October 22, 2008

'Finance Your Freedom,' Define Your Future

"You are led through your lifetime by the inner learning creature, the playful spiritual being that is your real self. Don't turn away from possible futures before you're certain you don't have anything to learn from them." ~ Richard Bach (b. 1936)

When I think of words that have illusory or even abstract meaning, the words freedom and future come to mind. As a Certified Financial Planner, you might guess that my career is centered upon the ideas of financial freedom and the financial future of my my clients.

The challenge for us humans, however, is that we attach money to our freedom and our future -- we assume that money is the source, or the delivering mechanism, for happiness and meaning in our lives. This attachment of money to our success, another illusory word, actually has the paradoxical potential to lead us farther away from our freedom and a meaningful future.

"Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for." ~ Viktor Frankl (1905-1997)

I believe, that money is a necessary tool for our fundamental well-being; however, the value, or marginal utility of money, diminishes at the point our basic needs of food, shelter and clothing are met. Once we cross this fundamental monetary threshold, our attention should be turned to the search for meaning -- not the pursuit of money, material wealth and social status.

Please take a look at my guest post at Finance Your Freedom, one of my favorite blogs. The blog author, Clay Collins, spends his time and energy helping others free themselves from the chains of social conventions.

Since there is no ideal path for us all to follow, and certainly not one definition for the words, freedom and future, Clay offers ideas and examples to inspire his readers to turn inward and define for themselves what these words mean and to put their thoughts into action.

If you are new to The Financial Philosopher, please have a look around. You may get a taste of this blog by reading some of my "Philosophy Favorites" posts in the left column of the page.

About Kent Thune

CONNECT

Search

Disclaimer

The information on this site is provided for discussion purposes only, and should not be misconstrued as investment advice. Under no circumstances does this information represent a recommendation to buy or sell securities.